insurance

Drivers for rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft would have to carry liability insurance under a bill heard Tuesday in the Washington state House.

It’s the latest compromise in a months-long negotiation between state leaders, rideshare services and taxi companies.

State Senator Cyrus Habib first sponsored a bill to create an entire framework to regulate the companies – but that proved hard to move past other lawmakers. The Kirkland Democrat said the new version of his bill focuses on requiring insurance, which he said is the most important issue.

Wildfire have been destroying property – and lives – across the Northwest for the past month and that got us wondering: what do you do if your home or property is damaged in a fire? Here are precautions and steps to take.

Just in time for open enrollment season—insurance companies are required to explain health benefits in plain language. The new requirement is part of the affordable care act that takes effect this week.

The race for the Insurance Commissioner’s Office in Washington State might not be getting as much attention compared to other election races. But whoever wins the office will face a huge undertaking in the coming years as the state embarks on the next major phase of the national health care law. Ruby de Luna reports on the candidates and their views of the office’s role in the Affordable Care Act.

Washington State’s health insurance exchange got a boost. Wednesday the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the state more than $127 million in federal grants. That money will help develop and implement the state’s Health Benefits exchange. The exchange is a marketplace where consumers will be able to compare and shop for health insurance plans.

Secretary of health Kathleen Sebelius says so far 34 states are in different stages of creating their own exchange…

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- If you buy your own health plan, you probably go through an insurance broker. By next year you’ll be able to shop through a health insurance exchange. Most states are creating their own marketplace for people to compare and shop for health plans. Reporter Ruby de Luna has a preview of what Washington's exchange could look like, and what to expect.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington state insurance commissioner has fined an Indiana company $100,000 for charging Washington college students the wrong rates.

Unicare Life and Health Insurance sold over 8,000 insurance policies, primarily to international students, between 2004 and 2009. Most were short-term policies costing an average of $80 a month. The problem is, the company used unapproved methods to determine those rates. Unicare also excluded people from coverage whom they shouldn’t have. Rich Roesler is a spokesperson for the state’s insurance office.